A modern marvel, a cotton candy-hued building, graces Santander, offering a delightful contemporary appeal
In the heart of Santander, Spain, a 600 square metre space has been transformed into a serene, contemporary haven that seamlessly blends art and office life. The Colección ES Headquarters, a project led by the architecture studio Carbajo Hermanos, was designed as a multifunctional area accommodating a private contemporary art collection, office work, and social gatherings.
The architects, Andrea Carbajo and Galo Carbajo, drew inspiration from their early professional experience in Japan, which is evident in the tranquil, elegant, and airy interior. The minimalist aesthetic, characterised by simplicity, tranquility, and elegance, respects the building's simple, boxy architectural form. Birch wood ceilings add sophistication to some smaller rooms, enhancing the minimalist approach.
The colour and material palette are a creative departure from the typical monochrome scheme common in multifunctional spaces. Instead, soft pastel tones reminiscent of cotton candy—white as a canvas, softened by grey floors, pink partitions, and light blue furnishings—dominate the interior. This choice was inspired by the colours of the coastal city of Santander, where the architects spent their childhoods, imbuing the space with an emotional connection to its locale.
The arrangement of the artworks and practical spaces within the Colección ES Headquarters resembles a series of snapshots, with the artworks at the forefront and practical spaces arranged around them. Square glass partitions, framed in pink, divide the more utilitarian areas, such as the kitchen, maintaining visual fluidity throughout the interior.
The project reinforces a coherent and purposeful atmosphere, with exhibition areas making up the majority of the space. A storage room for the art collection, a bathroom, two guest restrooms, a kitchen, and an office have been added to cater to the various needs of the space.
The Colección ES Headquarters offers moments of quiet contemplation and social interaction in perfect equilibrium. The design is a tribute to the collector's background in mathematics, with the interior layout based on the fundamental geometric coordinate axes and divided into four parts.
For those interested in exploring more about the architects' work, the Carbajo Hermanos architecture studio's website is carbajohermanos.es. The contemporary, cotton candy-coloured Colección ES Headquarters is a testament to the studio's commitment to creating functional, calming, and minimalist spaces that harmoniously blend art and office life.
The architects, Andrea Carbajo and Galo Carbajo, combine their love for minimalist interior-design with the lifestyle and home-and-garden aesthetics of their coastal city, Santander, in the creation of the contemporary Colección ES Headquarters. The soft pastel tones and harmonious blend of art and office spaces demonstrate their dedication to crafting functional, tranquil, and beautifully designed environments that resonate with the locale.
